Apparatus for binding rolled bales of agricultural harvested crops

Abstract

The apparatus for binding rolled bales comprises at least one reel of twine, a twine guiding device for guiding the hank of twine along the surface of the bale to be bound and a control device for the twine guiding device, comprising a rope sheave and a set of gears. The twine guiding device comprises two spaced twine guiding arms staggered with respect to one another which may be pivoted in the opposite direction one from the other from an initial position, in which the two arms cross over one another, to a maximum position, in which the two ends of the bale are simultaneously bound, to an end position, which corresponds essentially to the initial position.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for binding rolled bales of agricultural harvested crops, comprising at least one reel for holding twine, a twine guiding device for guiding a hank of twine along a surface of the bale to be bound and a control device for the twine guiding device, comprising a rope sheave and a set of gears, wherein the twine guiding device exhibits two spaced, pivotable twine guiding arms staggered with respect to one another and hinged to a cross rib frame member, each twine guiding arm having means for pivoting the respective arms in opposite directions by a connecting rod connected to said set of gears for moving the guiding arms from an initial position, in which the two twine guiding arms cross over one another and a middle area of the bale is bound, to an end position, in which the two ends of the bale are simultaneously bound, means for feeding twine from the reel and through the guiding device to a mechanism for wrapping the twine about the rolled bales, and driving means for moving the two twine guiding arms via said rope sheave and the set of gears by means of feeding of the twine. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the set of gears comprise a ratchet gear with a reduction of 1:50 to 1:60. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the set of gears comprise a planet gear which is arranged in the rope sheave, with a reduction of 1:50 to 1:60. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein a pick-up device for picking up a harvested crop includes said apparatus and a pressing chamber with a front stationary part and a rear flap which opens when a bale is formed, including a tripping device which is connected via a linkage of rods with the rear flap of the rolled bale press to actuate the apparatus when the rear flap is opened. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the tripping device includes a rib lever arm provided with a recess with which a locking pawl engages, and means coupling the locking pawl via a tension spring with one of the twine guiding arms. 
     
     
       6. An appartus as in claim 5, wherein means including a slide rod for activating the tripping device is connected with a two-arm pivotable lever which is hinged at the side of the front part of the pressing chamber and which is operated by rising the rear pivotable part of the pressing chamber. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the linkage of rods includes a stop boss which is attached to a lever pivoted to the rear part of the pressing chamber acted upon by a tension spring, and a locking hook arranged on the lever detachably embracing a latch member on the front stationary part of the pressing chamber. 
     
     
       8. A apparatus as in claim 7, wherein a hydraulic cylinder is provided on the stationary part of the pressing chamber, a rib being hinged on one end of the piston rod being connected with the locking hook. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein pivoted extensions are provided at outer free ends of the twine guiding arms and carry twine brakes. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as in claim 1, including a cutting device displaceable by one of the twine guiding arms from a position of rest into a twine cutting position and vice versa. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the cutting device is connected via a trip link having a recess with the twine guiding arm, a cam is provided on the twine guiding arm for engaging with the recess in the trip link, and a two-arm lever is provided pivoted on the frame member, having a projection on which the twine guiding arm is supported during its movement. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the trip link is connected with a spring in such a way that the recess lies against the cam. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the trip link has a projection and the twine guiding arm is provided with a cam which cooperates with the projection on the trip link. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the cutting device is equipped with two blades for respectively cutting twine guided by the two arms. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the rope sheave is connected with the set of gears via an eccentric and via a rocker, and the set of gears is connected with a roller which activates a crank mechanism for the twine guiding arms, the two connecting rods being staggered from one another at 180° on this crank mechanism.